Paper-feeding machine.



Patented Nov. l4, I899.

T. C. DEXTER.

(Application, filed. Aug. '6, 1898.)

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(No' Model.)

I ATTORNEYS" n: "cams PETERS co wumuma. wnsmns'rou, n. c.

Patented Nov. [4, I899.-

L t e e h S s t e e h s 8 c. m m RA E 6 M. T XGM EN Dm m n 0 m TRH m A PNo- 636,769. Patented Nov. l4, I899. T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filedlAug. 6, 1898.) (No odel.) 8 Sheets-$heet 3.

o WITNESSES:

W to

Q YWOZ BY ATTORN EYJ NE mums PEYERS 50.. Puma-Lune WASHINGTON a cPatented Nov. I4, I899.

8 5 mm 9 n E M. T w X Em Dom .E Di m WITNESSES ATTORNEYS No. 636,769.Patented Nov. [4, I899. T. 0. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 6, 1898.)

No. 636,769. Patented Nov.'l4, I899. T. 6. m-zxmz.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Lpplicaflon filed Aug. 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shoat 7.

28 INVENTOR 526M 0i 7%.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

No. 636,769. Pate h ted Nov. [4, I899.

' T. c. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(No Modal.) 8 Shoots-Shut 8.

I INVENTOR, $4M 0.

I BY MW ATTORNEN UNITED STAT S PATENT GEFICE.

TALBOT o. EXTER, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,769, dated November14, 1899. Application filed August 6, 1898. Serial No- 687,936. (Nomodel.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pearl River, county of Rockland,State of NewYork, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to simplify, cheapen, and improve. thestructure and operation of that type of paper-feeding machine which isadapted to separate the successive sheets in an adjustably-supportedpile and feed them forward to a paper-folder, rulingmachine,printingpress, or other machine which is to operate upon the sheets.

The features of importance in my present application are improvementsupon the machine covered by application for patent filed by me June24,1898,Serial N0.684,547,in which machine I employ feeding-offinstruments and sheet-separating instruments mounted upon a commoncarriage, which is reciprocated forward and back above the pile andraised and lowered at the limit of the forward and backward movement,respectively, the pile of sheets and lower separator member being soarranged with respect tothe feeding-off and separating instru ments uponthe carriage that the feeding-off and separating instruments will engagethe sheet successively or alternately The reciprocating carriage isoperatively mounted upon a horizontal track-bar, which is intermittentlyelevated and lowered by suitable mechanism to support the feeding-offand separating instruments in operative relation to the sheets duringthe forward movement of the carriage and out of operative relationduring the backward movement of the carriage. Said machine is alsoprovided with a single automatic tripping device actuated by the sheetsfed off and adapted to arrest the forward movement of the carriage, andconsequently the forward movement of the separating and feedinginstruments, when the sheet reaches registered position.

The. machine covered by my present application employs feeding-off andsheet-separatinginstruments which are independently controlled byindependent controlling devices arranged to be successively actuated byapass:

ing sheet to independently and successively arrest the operation of thefeeding-off and sheet-separatinginstruments; Iconsiderthis feature ofthe greatest importance, for reasons which will appear from thefollowing detailed description of the structure and operation, and Iclaim such feature to be broadly new in my machine. -I prefer to mountthe independent feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments upon acommon carriage, which is elevated at the limit of the forward strokeand lowered at the limit of the backward stroke, as in the machinecovered by my application, Serial No. 684,347, above referred to, and Isupport independent sheet-actuated tripping devices, one behind theother, from the vertically-movable track bar or frame, which supportsthe carriage in proper relation to independent devices mounted upon thecarriage and controlling, respectively, the feeding-off andsheet-separating instruments.

In addition to the independent control of the feeding-off and separatinginstruments for arresting their operations successively I provide meansfor successively bringing said instruments into operation upon a sheet.This result is accomplished in the machine covered in my above-namedapplication, Serial No. 684,347, by arranging the normal working levelof the top of the pile lower than j the plane of the separator-beds,which arrangement is also found in my present machine; but I do notemploy such arrangement to effect the successive engagement of thefeeding-off and separating instruments With the sheet, because it isobjectionable to have .the upper separator member lowered into itsworking plane before it reaches the lower separator member on account ofthe extreme wear to which the forward edge of upper member and rear edgeof lower member are subjected by such an arrangement. In my presentmachine I provide means for first lowering the carriage part way andsupporting it during the first part of its forward movement with thefeeding-off instrument only in operative position (the upper separatormember being held above its working plane) and then loweringzit fartherand supporting it in the lower plane during the remainder of its forwardmovement with the separating instrument in operative position. Thesecond drop or downward movement of the carriage is so timed withrespect to the forward movement that the upper separator member will bedropped into engagement with the sheet upon the lower separator, atwhich moment (under the preferred adjustment of the parts) thefeedingoff instruments will have been tripped and moved out ofengagement with the sheet.

The independent controlling devices may be of any approved constructioncapable of independently arresting the operation of the feeding-off andseparating instruments; but I prefer to employtwo independent rack-barslongitudinally movable upon the carriage and controlling, respectively,the operation of the feeding-off and separating instruments andindependent pawls controlled by trip-fingers actuated by the passingsheets, the pawls being adapted to engage the rack-bars for moving themupon the carriage. In the preferred form of machine shown in theaccompanying drawings the feeding-off instruments are actuated bysprings for throwing them into engagement with the sheet, (when thecarriage is lowered into its initial feeding plane,) and their operationupon the sheet is arrested by the automatic rack-bar, which elevatesthem out of engagement with the sheet. The upperseparator member ispractically rigid with the carriage, and its operation upon the sheet isarrested by the action of the automatically controlled rack bar, whichdisengages the operating-arm from the carriage and stops the forwardmovement of the carriage.

Like the machine covered by my application Serial No. 684:,347, mypresent machine may be used either with the separator instru ments incombination with the feeding-oif instruments or with the feeding-offinstruments alone as a simple automatically-controlled push-fingermachine, the separator instruments being removable for this purpose. Theupper separator members are also adjustable, as in said machine. Iemploy two sets of feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments arrangedtransversely of the machine, as in the old forms of my machines, onefeeding-off instrument and one sheet-separating instrument being mountedupon each of the two longitudinally-reciprocating carriages. By thisarrangement the sheets are accurately squared and registered at theirforward edge before being fed away from the machine by the deliverymechanism.

My machine consists of other features of novelty,which will hereinafterbe pointed out, together with the above-enumerated main features, withreference to the accompanying drawings, and then specified with regardto their patentable novelty in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are longitudinal verticalsectional elevations of a paper-feeding machine embodying myimprovements and showing three positions of the essential parts. Figs.l, 5, and 6 are enlarged detail perspective views of the main parts ofsaid machine. Fig.7 is a rear elevation, partly in transverse section,of parts of the same mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspectiveview showing parts of the carriage, the supporting frame or track, andcontrolling devices of the advancing and separating means. Figs!) and 10are perspective views of the lower separator member, Fig. .0 alsoshowing the independent sheet-actuated trips and sheet-con fining shoeor guide.

In the drawings I have shown only the essential parts of theimprovements claimed as novel in my present application; but it must beunderstood that the structures illustrated and described are employed incombination with the essential elements of a paper-feeding machine whichis adapted to separate the successive sheets from a pile and feed themfrom the machine to the folder, printing-press, or other machine whichis to act upon the sheets. Such a machine is illustrated in my PatentNo. 623,769, dated April 25, 1899, and reference may be made to saidpatent for the details of a complete machine to which my presentimprovements may be applied.

The machine-frame may be of any suitable construction to properlysupport the mechanisms hereinafter described. I have shown only parts ofthe frame in the accompanying drawings, of which parts, 1 represents oneof the side frames; 44, are brackets; (5, the transversely-extendingair-pipe rigidly secured in the side frames, and 7 one of a pair ofbrackets rigidly clamped upon and supported by the air-pipe. Thebrackets '7are adjustable upon the air-pipe 6 transversely of themachine and support the feeder-carriages and operating mechanisms, ashereinafter set forth.

15 represents an adj ustably-supported pile of sheets, a: being thenormal Working height of the top of the pile. The supporting-table forthe pile (not shown) may be of any known construction, provided withautomatic elevating mechanism for retaining the top of the pile at theproper level.

The upper face of each of the brackets is formed with a socket 20, inwhich is removably supported the lower rubber retardingblock 23 of theseparator. The lower sheetretarding member 23 comprises, preferably, twoouter oblong strips or pieces of soft rubber 23 and a central oblongstrip or piece 23 of a harder rubber, said strips or pieces beingarranged parallel with each other longitudinally of the machine. Thislower separator orsheetretarding member is an improvement upon and workson the same principle as the sheet-separating device covered broadly inthe patent of James J. Parker, No. 615,889, granted December 13, 1898,for sheet-separator for paper-feeding machines, in which the lowerseparator or sheet-retarding member is 'provided with lines or strips ofmaterial of an inferior frictional quality extending over or through itssurface parallel to the direction of feed. The object of this improvedstructure of lower separator is to utilize the fine frictional capacityof soft rubber to hold back the chance under sheet-or sheets from thetop sheet (which is moving under the action of the upper separatormember) and at the same time render the friction of the lower separatormember sufficiently inferior to that of the upper movable separatormember to avoid interference with the feed of the sheet from the machineunder the action of the upper separator member. The central piece orstrip of harder rubber also serves as a slide or guide upon which thetop sheet slides in passing out of the machine, and it prevents theforward edge of the top sheet from adhering to the side pieces or stripsof soft rubber of the lower separator, thus avoiding tearing or rumplingof the sheet. As before stated, the lower separator members aresupported with their upper working faces in a plane slightlyhigher thanthe normal working plane of the pile of sheets, as shown in thedrawings.

25 represents one of a series of milled or knurled wheels or rollerskeyed to a constant-ly-driven shaft (not shown) and supported thereby atthe forward edge of the pile of sheets. The peripheries of the milled orknurled wheels or rollers are a little to the rear of the rear edge ofthe lowerseparator members and serve to elevate the forward edges of thesheets as they are pushed forward by the feeding-off devices to causethe sheets to pass to the separator pads or beds.

27 are small air-jet pipes having flattened outlets and supported at therear edges of the separator-beds to assist the sheets in passing freelyto the separator-beds and preventing the forward edges of the sheetsbeing jammed against the separator-beds. The j et-pipes 27 are connectedwith the main air-pipe 6 through a suitable rubber-hose connection,which is not shown.

30 is the main operating-shaft of the machine,'journaled in suitablebearings in the side frames and extending transversely across themachine above the feeding and separating devices. Each of the brackets7, which are adj ustably mounted upon the air-pipe 6, has formedintegral with it an upwardly-extending guide-frame 31, which embracesthe main shaft 30 and is provided with a bearing 32, through which theshaft 30 extends. One face of the guide-frame 31 is formed with aVertical channel, in which is supported the Vertically-reciprocatingslide-bar 35, formed with an elongated slot, through which the shaft 30passes.

35 is a lug formed at the upper end of the slide 35.

35 is a vertical channel or groove cut in the inner face of slide 35,(adjacent to the face of guide-frame 31,) and 36 is a plate or blockfitting in said channel or groove and adj ustable vertically therein.

36 is a pin or bolt riveted in the block 36 and projecting therefromthrough an elongated slot 35 of the slide 35 and supporting a journalsleeve or collar 39, upon which is freely j ournaled anantifriction-roller 38, confined between a flange of the sleeve and theface of slide 35. A clamping-nut 40 is screwed upon the outer threadedend of pin or bolt 36, engaging the sleeve or collar 37 and clamping itagainst the face of slide 35 and the block 36 against the inner face ofthe groove or channel 35 of slide 35. Extending from upper end of plate36 is a right-angled lug 36 having a slotted or forked end, in whichengages the screw or bolt 37, which is threaded into an opening formedin lug 35 The screw or bolt 37 has an integral collar 37 adjacent to itshead, the forked end of lug 36 fitting between the head and collar ofthe bolt.

41 is a cam secured to the shaft 30 by setscrew 42. The cam 41 islocated in close proximity to the face of the slide 35 and is inconstant engagement with the antifriction-roller 38 for the purpose ofraising and lowering the slide 35. By loosening the nut 40 the screw 37can be screwed to the right or left to adjust plate 36 and supportedroller 38 up or down upon slide 35. When theadjustment has beenaccomplished, nut 40 is again tightened to clamp plate 36 in place. Withthis adjustment the operative position of the carriage with relation tothe pile can be regulated, as will be clearly understood, the carriagebeing allowed to descend into a lower working plane by moving plate 36upon slide 35 and being supported in a higher working plane when theplate 36 is moved down on slide 35. This adjustment is necessary toaccommodate upper separator members of different thicknesses, and itenables the operator to maintain the machine in first-class workingorder, as the carriage can be lowered slightly as the separator membersbecome worn.

The cam 41 is of peculiar shape and construction, as will now beexplained. Nearly one-half of the working periphery of the camconstitutes the high portion 41*, which supports the frame (upon whichthe carriage reciprocates) in its highest position when the roll 38 isin engagement with it. 41 is the lowest portion of the cam, which allowsthe carriage-supporting frame to rest in its lowest position during thelatter part of the forward feeding stroke of the carriage, and 41 is theintermediate portion of the cam, which supports the frame in itsintermediate position during the first part of the forward feedingmovement of the carriage. 43 is an adjustable segment-plate concentricwith and forming part of the intermediate portion 41 ofthe cam. 44 is acurved slot cut through cam 41, and 43 is a bolt passing through andworking in slot 44 and threaded into an opening in segment-plate 43 andadapted to clamp the segment-plate in any desired adjusted position uponthe cam for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the intermediatepart 41 of the cam, and thereby regulating the time of the second dropof the carriage with relation to the forward feeding motion. The ne- IIOcessity of such an adj ustable'cam will be clear from the description ofthe operation of the machine hereinafter given.

is a horizontal track-bar secured to the lower end of thevertically-reciprocating slide 35 by means of bolts a6. The horizontaltrackbar 45 is of dovetailed cross-section and is formed in one facewith a channel 47, in which fits a longitudinally-adjustable bracket 48,secured by means of a set-screw or bolt 49, passing through alongitudinal slot of the bracket and threaded into a suitable opening inthe track-bar. The bracket 48 supports the tripping fingers and pawls ofthe automatic tripping devices, as hereinafter explained. The horizontaltrack-bar 45 has secured to its rear end a stop-plate 45, which isadapted to engage the rear end of the lower rack-bar, hereinafterreferred to, at the limit of the backward stroke of the carriage forshifting said rack-bar into normal position to allow the sheet-ad vancing means to move into operative position in readiness for the nextforward feeding operation. This will be clearer from the description ofthe arrangement and operation of the advancing means.

is one of a pair of longitudinally-reciprocating and vertically-movingfeeder-carriages, which comprises a plate or bar formed on one face withhorizontal flanges 56'and 57, arranged to constitute a dovetailedgroove, in which the horizontal track-bar 45 engages for supporting thecarriage in its horizontal reciprocation. The carriage can be adjustedvertically with relation to the pile of sheets by means of the screw 36,above referred to.

58 is a wear strip or shim inserted between the track-bar 45 and theupper flange 57 of the carriage, said wear strip or shim being confinedby the screw-bolts 59 and nuts 59. At the lower edge of adownwardly-projecting arm 55 of the carriage is formed a horizontalplate or flange 60, having a vertical slit 60 out centrally in it todivide it from the bottom part way up to the point of attachment of thearm 55 to the carriage.

61 is a dovetailed groove formed in the lower slitted face of flange 60of the arm of the carriage.

62 is the oblong body or soft-rubber block secured to the backing-plate63, which is formed with a dovetailed tongue or rib 63, adapted toengage and slide longitudinally in the groove 61 of the divided flangeor plate 60. The soft-rubber body or block 62 upon its metal backingconstitutes the upper movable member of the sheet-separating device.

64: is a threaded bolt passing through a suitable threaded opening inthe divided portions of the depending arm of the carriage for clampingthe split or divided plate 63 upon the backing of the separator-block tosecure it in any desired longitudinally-adjusted position.

65 is a bracket-arm secured to and extending rearwardly from thecarriage 55. The bracket-arm 65 is formed at its forward end with avertical slot 65, through which passes a tap-bolt 66, which is seated ina suitable threaded opening in one face of the carriage 55. By reason ofthe said bolt 66 and slot 65 it will'be observed that the bracket-arm 65(carrying the feeding-01f instruments) may be vertically adjusted withrelation to the feeder-carriage and separator carried thereby, thebracket-arm 65 forming practically a con tinuation of the carriage.

70 and 71- are feeding-off instruments or fingers, each of which carriesin its forward bifurcated end a rigidly-clamped block or roll 72 of softrubber and is formed with a journal-sleeve 73, journaled upon aboltorpin 74, projecting from one face of the bracketarm 65. Extendingupwardly from each of the journal-sleeves 73 is a heel 75, which isengaged by a lug 76, extending from asleeve 77, adjustably clamped uponthe end of a longitudinally-movable rod 78, supported in bracket-arms79, extending from one face of the bracket-arm 65.

is a yoke adjustably clamped upon the rod 78 and provided with a pin 81,which projects through a longitudinal slot 82,formed in the bracket-arm65.

84 is a longitudinally-extending rod journaled at its rear end upon thepin 81 and at its forward end to the downwardly-extending arm 85 of thebell-crank lever 85 86, which is jonrnaled at 87 upon one face of thereciprocating carriage.

88 is an antifriction-roller journaled in the end of arm 86.

135 is a longitudinally-moving rack-bar supported upon the flange 136,projecting from one face of the reciprocating carriage 55, the rack-barbeing formed with a longitudinal channel 135, in which a flanged plate137 engages, the plate 137 being secured to the flange 136 of thecarriage by means of screws 138. The rack-bar 135 is formed upon itsupper edge adjacent to its rear end with a curved recess or depression135, in which the antifriction-roller 88 is adapted to engage to allowthe feed-fingers 70 and 71 to be moved downwardly by their springs intoengagement with the top of the pile of sheets when the carriage is initsinitial intermediate lowered position. The position of the rack-barin the carriage is automatically controlled by a sheet-actuatedcont-rolling device hereinafter described.

Each of the feeding-01f fingers is given a spring tendency to move intoengagement with the top of the pile of sheets by means of a spiralspring 100, mounted upon the bolt or pin 74 and one end engaging thejournalsleeve of the feed-finger, while the other end engages anadjustable collar 101, mounted upon the end of the bolt 74. Thearrangement of the spring-pressed feed-fingers and their controllingrack-bar just described is similar to the structure of the same devicescovered by an application filed by me December 14, 1807, Serial No.661,818, for improvements in paper-feeding machines, and I do not claimthis structure except in certain novel combinations not shown in saidapplication.

is a rock-shaft journaled in suitable bearings in the side frames of themachine and extending across the machine. The rockshaft 90 receives arocking motion from the main rotating shaft through any suitable means.(Not shown.)

Depending from and keyed to the rockshaft 90 is a long carriage-operating rock-arm 95, having journaled to its lower end an arm 96, formed witha heel 97, engaged by the spiral spring 98, which is connected at itsother end to a pin 99, projecting from one face of rock-arm 95. Thespring 98 keeps the forward end of the pivoted arm 96 pressed downwardlyinto engagement with a notch or recess formed in the upper edge of thecarriage 55. The walls of the recess 100 form the forward shoulder 100and the rear shoulder 100, with which an antifriction-roll 100 engagesfor moving the carriage forward and back. The roll 100 which is shownparticularly in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, is elongated for the purpose whichwill presently appear. The roll 100 is journaled freely upon a pin 102,mounted in the forward end of the springactuated operating-arm 96, thespring 98 holding the roll 100 normallyin engagement with the notch100*.

is a rack-bar formed with elongated slots 106, through which pass screws107 for confining the rack-bar in position upon one face of the carriage55.

108 is a flange formed integral with one face of the carriage 55 forassisting in sup: porting the rack-bar 105. The rack-bar 105 is adaptedto move longitudinally upon the carriage within certain limits for thepurpose presently to be explained. The upper serrated or toothed edge ofthe rack-bar105 is approximately on a level with the upper edge of thecarriage 55. The rear end of the rack bar is formed with an incline orcam 105*, which rests normally just below the antifriction-roll 100 ofthe operating-arm 96. The rack-bar forms one of the essential elementsof the automatic tripping devices which control the feeding operation ofthe carriage.

I will now proceed to describe the other parts of this automaticcontrolling mechanism.

As above stated, the bracket 48 is secured to the track-bar 45, so as tobe adjustable thereon longitudinally of the machine. The bracket 48 isformed with arms a, b, and c. Journaled upon the arm Ct is a pawl 140,sup ported normally in position to engage the longitudinally-movablerack-bar 105. Journaled upon the arm I) is a pawl 141, supportednormally in position to engage the rack-bar 135. Journaled upon the arme and the horizontal extension 0 of said arm are the sheet-actuatedtripping-fingers 142 and 143, which are journaled at 142 and 143, onebehind the other, with their lower ends resting in the longitudinalgroove or slot 4, formed in the casting which supports the .lowersheet-retarder or separator member and in position to be engaged andtripped successively by a passing sheet. Each of the tripping-fingers142 and 143 is preferably provided with a small weight 142 and 143, asshown in Fig. 9, and each is formed with a rearwardly-projecting heel142 or 143. Pivoted to the heel 142 of finger 142 is anupwardly-extending rod 144, which is pivoted at its upper end to a pin145, extending from one face of the pawl 140. A stop-pin 146 upon arm 0of bracket 48 engages the heel of tripping-finger 142 for limiting themovement of the finger and connected pawl. By this arrangement it willbe observed that when finger 142 is raised by a passing sheet the pawl140 will be lowered to engage rack-bar 105, said rack-bar moving forwardunder the pawl with the feedercarriage. Pivoted to the heel 143 offinger 143 is a rod 147, which projects upwardly through an ear or lug148, extending from one face of pawl 141. The rod 147 is provided with anut or collar 147, which engages the ear or lug 148 and normallysupports the pawl 141 in raised position. Supported upon the upper endof rod 147 is a small spiral spring 149, which is confined against theear or lug 148 by means of an adjustable nut or collar '150. By thisarrangement it will be observed that the tripping-finger 143 supportspawl 141 normally out of engagement with rack-bar 135, but that the pawlwill be moved'into engagement with the rack-bar when the tripping-fingeris raised by a sheet of paper.

By adjusting the bracket 48 longitudinally upon the track-bar 45 it willbe observed that the automatic controlling mechanisms can be -trippedsooner or later by the sheet passing This adjustment is necfrom themachine. essary in regulating the relative operation of the severaldevices in the machine.

As above stated, my improvements are preferably employed as parts of themachine which is illustrated and described in one of my above-namedapplications, in which two sets of feeding-01f devices and two sets ofseparating devices are arranged transversely of the machine. I havedescribed but one set of each of these devices; but it will be clearthat both sets are substantial duplicates, and from the abovedescription, taken in connection with the applications above referredto, the structure and arrangement of my improved machine will be fullyunderstood. It will of course be clear that two rock-arms 95, whichoperate arms 96, must be provided, one for each feeder-carriage, and twoslides 35, carrying track-bars 45, with their operating rotary cams uponthe main shaft 30. The other mechanisms described are also duplicated,

suitable means serving to impart the rocking 0 and adapted to confinethe sheets against too great an upward movement when acted upon by theupward air-blasts.

I will now describe the operation of my improved machine.

The carriages supporting the upper separating members and feeding-offinstruments are reciprocated forward and back above the pile by theengagement of antifriction-rolls 101 of operating-arms 96 with theshoulders 100 and 100 of the feeder-carriages. During the backwardmovement of the carriages the track-bars 45 are supported in theirhighest plane by reason of engagement of antifriction-roll 38 with highportion 41 of cam 41, and the feeding-off and separating instrumentswill be supported out of engagement with thepile. Atthebeginningoftheforwardfeeding motion of the carriages the trackbars are dropped totheir intermediate plane by engagement of roll 38 with intermediateportion 41 of cam 41, and during the latter portion of theforward-feeding motion the track-bars are sn pported in their lowestplanes by reason of engagement of roll 38 with low portion 41 of cam 41.Fig. 1 represents one of the track-bars in its intermediate plane, atwhich moment the carriage is starting forward with the feeding-offinstruments in engagement with the sheet and the upper separator memberabove the plane and in rear of the lower separator member. With theparts in this position the sheet is fed forward from the pile to thelower separator-beds, the knurled or milled wheels 25 and air-blastpipes 27 serving to elevate the forward edge of the sheet. As soon asthe forward edge of the sheet reaches the separator-bed thetripping-fingers 143 will be engaged and tripped and the pawls 141 willbe lowered into engagement with rack: bars 135 to hold said rack-barsagainst further forward movement. The carriages continue forward,causing relative movement between them and rack-bars 135, the result ofwhich is the elevation of the feed-fingers from the sheet in a mannereasily understood. If the sheet started forward unevenly from any cause,the feeding-off fingers upon the different carriages will not be trippedat the same moment, but will be thrown out of operation successively bythe independent trips as the points of the front edge of the sheet infront of them reach the trip-fingers. This results in the first squaringand registering of the sheet before the separators have come intooperation. lVhen the feeding-off fingers upon both carriages have beentripped, the upper separator members will be in position abovetheseparator-beds. Atthismomentthetrackbars will be lowered to theirlowest plane of operation, dropping the upperseparator members upon thesheet on the lower separatorbeds. The carriages continue forward and theupper separator members move the top sheet forward (the separator-bedsholding back any chance underlying sheets) till the front edge of thesheet reaches and trips the forward tripping-fingers 142, which allowspawls 140 to drop into engagement with the rack-bars 105 for holdingsaid rack-bars against further forward movement. The carriages continueon foramoment,when the operating-arms 96 will be disengaged from thecarriages and the forward movement of the carriages and upper separatingmembers will bearrested. Theoperating-armsfifiaredisengaged from thecarriage by the cam ends 105 of rackbars 105 being forced intoengagement with the antifriction-rollers of operating-arms 96 andlifting them out of engagement with the notch formed in the carriage. Itwill of course be clearthat the transverselyarrangedseparator-controlling tripping-fingers 142 are independent and will betripped by the forward edge of the sheet at different moments if thesheet is still a little uneven. This throws the separators out ofoperation separately and effects a second squaring and registering ofthe sheet. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts when the separatorsare tripped. The operating-arms continue forward to the end of theirstroke, the rollers 100 rolling upon the upper faces or edges of thecarriages. A moment after the sheetseparating devices have been arrestedwith the forward movement of the carriages the track-bars are elevatedby the high portion 41 of cam 41 coming into engagement with the roll38. The elevation of the track-bars also elevates the carriages,feeding-off and upper separating members, the tripping devices, andsheet-guide 155, leaving the separated sheet in registered position inreadiness to be fed from the machine by suitable sheet deliverymechanism (not shown) such, for instance, as the well-known droprollermechanism. The operating-arms 96 after reaching the limit of theirforward stroke move backward till they again engage recesses 100 of thecarriages, when their springs 98 force rolls 100 down into engagementwith recesses 100 against the incline or cam ends 105 of the rack-bars105,the springpressure being sufficient to cause the rackbars 105 tomove forward slightly to their normal position, the pawls 140 havingbeen elevated from engagement with the rack-bars by the downwardmovement of tripping-fingers 142 when they were elevated out ofengagement with the sheet. Fig. 3 shows this position of the parts. Assoon as rolls 100 are in engagement with recesses 100 the carriages willbe moved back with the rock-arms to their rearmost position,when therear ends of rack-bars 135 will be brought into engagement with stops 45and shifted forwardly on the carriages, bringing the recesses 135 intoengagement with friction-rollers 88 of bellcranks S5 86 to allow thesprings of feedingoff instruments to move the instruments downward intooperative position upon the carriages. The track-bars 45 are thenlowered to their intermediate plane and another feeding operation takesplace, the parts starting in the positien shown in Fig. 1, as alreadyexplained.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-01f and sheet-separating instruments opcrating uponthe pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated bythe sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation ofthe feeding-off and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for'a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automaticsheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancingmeans, and an independent automatic sheet-actuated tripping devicearresting the operation of the sheetseparating means, substantially asset forth.

3. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, with suitable feeding-off instruments, means forsimultaneously moving the feeding-off and separating instruments forwardand back over the pile, and independent automatic controlling devicesactuated by the sheet fed off to independently arrest the operation ofthe feeding-off and separating devices, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating uponthe pile, means for bringing the feeding-off and separating instrumentsinto operation upon a sheet successively or alternately, and independentautomatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheet fed off andadapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-oif andseparating devices, substantially as set forth.

5. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating uponthe pile, means for raising the feeding-off and separating instrumentsat the limit of their forward stroke, and lowering said instruments atthe limit of their backward stroke, and independentautomaticallycontrolled devices actuated by the sheet fed oif andadapted to independently arrest the operation of the feeding-off andseparating devices, substantially as set forth.

6. In a papenfeeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile ofsheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automaticsheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancingmeans, and an independent automatic sheet-actuatedtripping devicearresting the operation of the sheet-separating means and one of saidautomatic trip ping devices arresting the forward movement of thecarriage, substantially as set forth.

7. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeding-carriage, sheet-advanc-' ing meansand sheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automaticsheetactuated tripping device arresting the operation of the advancingmeans, and an independent automatic sheet-actuated' tripping devicearresting the operation of the sheetseparating means and stopping theforward movement of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating uponthe pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated bythe sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation ofthe feeding-off and separating devices, one of said tripping devicesraising the sheet-moving instrument out of engagement With the pile,substantially as set forth.

9-. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocatingfeeding-carriage,sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automaticsheet-actuated tripping device adapted to elevate the sheetadvancingmeans out of engagement with the sheet, and an independent automaticsheetactuated tripping device adapted to arrest the forward movement ofthe carriage to thereby arrest the operation of the separating means,substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocatingfeeding-carriage,sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means supported by said carriage, an automaticsheet-actuated tripping device adapted to elevate the sheetadvancingmeans out of engagement with the sheet, and an independent automaticsheetactuated tripping device adapted to arrest the forward movement ofthe carriage to thereby arrest the operation of the separating means,and means for raising and lowering the carriage, substantially as setforth.

11. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating uponthe pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated bythe sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation ofthe feeding-off and separating devices, said independent devices beingarranged to be successively tripped by a passing sheet, substantially asset forth.

12. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, feeding-off and sheet-separating instruments operating uponthe pile, and independent automatically-controlled devices actuated bythe sheet fed off and adapted to independently arrest the operation ofthe feeding-elf and separating devices, said independent devices beingarranged one behind the other longitudinally of the machine to besuccessively tripped by a passing sheet, substantially as set forth.

13. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, two sets of independently-controlled feeding-off andsheet-separating devices arranged transversely of the pile, and two setsof independent sheet-actuated controlling; devices also arrangedtransversely of the pile, each controlling device of each set beingadapted to independently arrest the operation of one of the feeding-offor separating devices, substantially as set forth.

14. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separatingmeans supported upon said carriage, means for reciprocating the carriageabove the pile, and means for elevating the carriage at the limitofitsforward movement, lowering it part way at the limit of its backwardmovement, supporting it in partly-lowered position during first part ofits forward movement, and then lowering it to its lowest position andsupporting it in said lowest position during remainderof its forwardstroke, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocating the carriageforward and backward, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating meansmounted upon said carriage and so arranged that the advancing means willoperate when the carriage is moving forward in a relatively high planewhile the sheet-separating means will operate only when the carriage isin a lower plane, and means for elevating and lowering the carriagearranged to first lower the carriage part way and support it during thefirst part of its forward movement with the advancing means only inoperation, then lower it farther and support it in its lower planeduring the remainder of its forward movement with the sheet-separatingmeans in operation, and finally elevate it and support it in elevatedposition during'the backward movement of the carriage, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

16. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocating the carriageforward and backward, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating meansmounted upon said carriage and so arranged that the advancing means willoperate when the carriage is moving forward in a relatively high planewhile the sheet-separating means will operate only when the carriage isin a lower plane, means for elevating and lowering the carriage arrangedto first lower the carriage part way and support it during the firstpart of its forward movement with the advancing means only in operation,then lower it farther and support it in its lower plane during theremainder of its forward movement with the sheet-separating means inoperation, and finally elevate it and support it in elevated positionduring the back ward movement of the carriage and means for arrestingthe operation of the sheet-advancing means before the sheet-separatingmeans start to operate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1?. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separatingmeans supported upon said carriage, means for reciprocating the carriageabove the pile, independent controlling devices adapted to independentlyarrest the operation of the sheet-advancing means and sheet-separatingmeans, and means for elevating the carriage at the limit of its forwardmovement, lowering it part way at the limit of its backward movement,supporting it in partly-lowered position during first part of itsforward movement, and then lowering it to its lowest position andsupporting it in said lowest position during remainder of its forwardstroke, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a lower separator or sheet-retarding bed arranged in ahorizontal plane slightly higher than the normal working plane of thetop of the pile of sheets, a feeder-carriage, means for reciprocatingthe feeder-carriage, sheetadvancing means and sheet-separating meansmounted upon said carriage, and means for elevating and lowering thecarriage arranged to firstlower the carriage part way and sup port itduring the first part of its forward movement with the advancing meansonly in operative relation to a sheet, then lower it farther and supportit in its lower plane during the remainder of its forward movement withthe sheetseparating means in operation, and finally elevate it andsupport it in elevated position during the backward movement of thecarriage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support fora pileof sheets, atrackbar, a carriage supported upon said trackbar,sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon thecarriage, means for reciprocating the carriage upon the track-bar, aslide supporting the track-bar, and a cam engaging the slide and formedwith a high portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion,substantially as aud for the purpose set forth.

20. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a trackbar, a carriage supported upon said trackbar,sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means mounted upon thecarriage,

means for reciprocating the carriage upon the track-bar, and independentsheet-actuated controlling devices adapted to independently arrest theoperation of the advancing means and separating means, a slidesupporting the track-bar, and a cam engaging the slide and formed with ahigh portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

21. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage supporting feeding instruments, aVertically-movable frame supporting said carriage, a cam, and means ofengagement between the frame and cam, said engaging means beingadjustably mounted upon the vertically-movable frame for regulating theoperative position of the carriage supported thereby, substantially asset forth.

22. In a paper-feedin g machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a feeder-carriage supporting feeding instruments, avertically-movable frame supporting said carriage, a cam, a supportadjustably mounted upon the vertically-movable frame, anantifriction-roller mounted upon said support, and means for adjustingthe support and antifriction-roller upon the vertically-movable frame,substantially as set forth. 2

23. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a track bar or frame, a carriage supported upon said trackbar or frame, suitable sheet-feeding instruments mounted upon thecarriage, means for reciprocating the carriage, a vertically-movableslide supporting the track bar or frame, aplate adjustable upon theslide and supporting an antifriction-roller, means for adjusting theplate vertically upon the slide, means for clamping the plate inadjusted position, and a cam operating upon the antifriction-roller,substantially as set forth.

24:. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating meansdetachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-barlongitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage theoperating means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinallymovable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means fromthe sheet, two independent pawls mounted upon a support stationary withrelation to the carriage, and independent tripping devices supported inthe path of the sheets and connected respectively with the independentpawls, substantially as set forth.

25. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating meansdetachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-barlongitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage theoperatin g means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinallymovable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means fromthe sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which the carriagereciprocates, and independent sheet-actuated tripping devices supportedupon said vertically-movable frame and controlling the rack-bars, as setforth.

26. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, a re*' ciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating meansdetachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-barlongitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage theoperatin g means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinallymovable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means fromthe sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which said carriagereciprocates, a frame or bracket mounted upon said vertically-movableframe and adjustable thereon longitudinally of the machine, andindependent sheet-actuated tripping devices mounted upon saidlongitudinally-adjustable frame or bracket and independently controllingthe rack-bars, substantially as set forth.

27 In a paper-feedin g machine, the co mbination of a support for a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, operating meansdetachably engaging the carriage for reciprocating it, a rack-barlongitudinally movable upon the carriage adapted to disengage theoperating means therefrom, a second independent rack-bar longitudinallymovable upon the carriage adapted to disengage the advancing means fromthe sheet, a vertically-movable frame upon which the carriagereciprocates, independent sheet-actuated devices controlling therack-bars, and a stop upon said frame adapted to engage the rack-bar ofthe advancing means when the carriage reaches the limit of its rearwardmovement to shift said rack-bar into normal position and allow theadvancing means to move into operative position, substantially as setforth.

28. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support, for a pileof sheets, a reciprocating feeder-carriage, sheet-advancing means andsheet-separating means mounted upon the carriage, independentautomatically-controlled devices actuated by the sheets fed off andadapted to independently arrest the operation of the sheet-advancingmeans and sheet-separating means, a vertically-movable frame supportingthe carriage and automatic controlling devices, and a sheet-confiningshoe or guide also mounted upon said vertically-movable frame,substantially as set forth.

29. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pileof sheets, avertically-movable frame, a carriage mounted upon saidframe, sheet-advancing means and sheet-separating means supported uponsaid carriage and arranged to successively engage a sheet, and a camcontrolling the rise and fall of said frame and comprisinga cam properhaving a high portion, a low portion and an intermediate portion, and asegment-plate concentric with the intermediate portion of the cam andadjustable upon the cam to regulate the second drop of the frame,substantially as set forth.

30. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a lower separatingmember, with an upper separating member comprising a movable split orpartially-divided support or arm having a socket for the reception ofthe separating-pad, a separating and feeding pad adjustably mounted inthe socket of said support or arm and means for clamping said splitsupport or arm upon the feeding and separating pad, as set forth.

31. In a paper-feeding machine, a frictional separator comprising anupper movable rubber-faced feeding-pad, and a lower stationaryseparator-bed formed of longitudinally-arranged pieces of hard and softrubber, as set forth.

